Tokyo: UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon bid for a second five-year term will be backed by Japan, top government official said on Tuesday.

"We take note of the role that Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has played in tackling global issues during his term in the past five years, and we hope that he will continue to take on this grave responsibility in the internationalcommunity," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a news conference.

Japan has notified Ban about its support for his reappointment through a message from Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Edano said a day after Ban announced he will run again after his current term expires on December 31.

Ban, the former South Korean foreign minister is expected to be easily reappointed as there are no other candidates and has already secured the backing of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.(Agencies)